Holmgren comes clean at last, says today's game is 'must-win'

The Seattle Sea-hawks are not even remotely familiar with the role they are going to play in today's home game against the Arizona Cardinals.

Sure, there has been the occasional loss sprinkled in against the Cardinals over the past six years, including last year's demoralizing defeat in Glendale, Ariz., when Matt Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander muffed an exchange toward the end of the game. That debacle was the beginning of the end for Alexander.

But for the most part, the Cardinals have been a mere road bump for the Seahawks as they trundled their way to division title after division title.

But this year, against a team that has not won at Qwest Field since its inaugural season and has not won a division title — any division title — since 1975, the Seahawks find themselves three-point underdogs — even with the return of quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and wide receiver Deion Branch.

The Seahawks (2-7) are four games behind the Cardinals (6-3). Though perhaps psychologically defeated, they are not mathematically out of the competition. Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren is not known to employ hyperbole often, so it was taken with utmost seriousness when he described this game as a must-win.

"I think it's about time to label one," Holmgren said. "We should label this one. It's pretty important. I've always said that until mathematically you can't do it anymore, you have hope. We're getting to that point right now. So this is a must-win game."

Though a victory may offer eternal optimists a glimmer of hope regarding the playoffs for a sixth consecutive season, in part because the Seahawks would still have one game remaining against Arizona in the season finale, the truth of the matter is they will have a very difficult time overcoming their horrible start.

First, Seattle's schedule includes two games against NFC East opponents Washington and Dallas, as well as New England and the resurgent New York Jets.

Yes, the Cardinals' schedule is difficult as well, with road games to be played at Philadelphia and New England and home games against the New York Giants and Minnesota.

But the Cardinals probably need to win only two or three more in the weak NFC West to finally realize the success that many experts have been predicting for several years. A victory today would virtually ensure a new division champion.

"They've been the bullies on the block for a long time," Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "For a confidence-builder for your team, especially a team you hope gets into the playoffs and can be successful, you have to be able to exorcise some of those demons.

"That's not saying this is going to be easy. This is going to be tough. We know that going in. I don't care what Seattle's record is. I don't care what our record is. We have not played as well as we could and this is another opportunity to go in there and hopefully do better."

The Seahawks hope the return of Hasselbeck — despite his career-low 57.7 passer rating, which would be the lowest in the conference had he played enough games for it to be included — is enough to make the game as competitive as their 21-19 loss in Miami last week, with Qwest Field serving as their winning edge.

They also anticipate — with fingers crossed regarding his health — that the return of Branch will open up opportunities for both Hasselbeck and Branch's fellow receivers, who have been constricted by defenses paying such close attention to them.

What remains to be seen is how effective Branch will be given that his heel injury has prevented him from working out in the same fashion that he did when he was returning from reconstructive surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament.

He likened those workouts to a distance runner, and said he was in far better shape than his teammates because while they were familiarizing themselves with Holmgren's plays during training camp, he was continually enduring conditioning drills, including running backwards up the 40-foot berm that flanks the practice fields.

Because his heel would adversely react to running, he was restricted to jogging with a weighted vest in the pool in the training room, as well as the stationary bike.

"It's not the same, now don't get me wrong," Branch said. "But I think I am OK. I feel good for the amount of time that I missed. I take a lot of pride staying in shape. Now it's all about I have to work myself back in (immediately). I don't have time to prepare, I have to play now."

• Putzier cut, Adams activated : The Seahawks activated safety Jamar Adams from the practice squad on Saturday and released tight end Jeb Putzier. Adams is needed because safety C.J. Wallace suffered a hamstring injury last week. The release of Putzier likely means tight end Will Heller will return from his knee injury.